Find out how popular the last name Outlaw is in the United States and learn more about the meaning, history, and race and ethnic origin of people in America who are named Outlaw.

Outlaw, like all of the last names we have data for, is identified by the U.S. Census Bureau as a surname which has more than 100 occurrences in the United States in the Decennial Census survey. The most recent statistics we have for the Outlaw surname is from the 2010 census data.

Popularity of Outlaw in America

Outlaw is the 3991st most popular name in America based on the data we have collected from the U.S. Census Bureau.

The Outlaw surname appeared 8,901 times in the 2010 census and if you were to sample 100,000 people in the United States, approximately 3 people would have the surname Outlaw.

We can also compare 2010 data for Outlaw to data from the previous census in 2000. The table below contains all of the statistics for both years in a side-by-side comparison.

The history of the last name Outlaw

The surname Outlaw has its origins in England, dating back to the Middle Ages. It is believed to have derived from the Old English words "ut" and "lagu," which together meant "outside the law." This suggests that the name may have originally referred to individuals who lived outside the established legal system or were considered outlaws.

One of the earliest recorded instances of the name Outlaw can be found in the Domesday Book of 1086, which was a comprehensive survey of land ownership and taxation in England commissioned by William the Conqueror. The entry mentions an individual named Outlau, likely referring to someone who lived on the fringes of society.

During the medieval period, the name Outlaw was primarily concentrated in the northern regions of England, particularly in Yorkshire and Northumberland. These areas were known for their rugged terrain and remote settlements, which may have provided a safe haven for those seeking to evade the authorities.

In the 13th century, there are records of a family named Outlaw residing in the village of Outlaw, located near the town of Wakefield in West Yorkshire. This place name is thought to have been derived from the surname, suggesting that the family had established a significant presence in the area.

One notable figure bearing the Outlaw surname was Sir William Outlaw (c. 1450-1519), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Yorkshire. He served as the Lord Mayor of York in 1507 and was a prominent figure in the city's civic affairs.

Another individual of note was Robert Outlaw (c. 1570-1635), an English clergyman and academic who served as the Archdeacon of Leicester and later became the President of Corpus Christi College, Oxford.

In the 17th century, the Outlaw family had established itself in the American colonies, with records indicating the presence of individuals with this surname in Virginia and Maryland. One such person was Henry Outlaw (c. 1640-1709), a planter and landowner in Virginia.

During the 18th century, the Outlaw surname continued to be found in various parts of England, with families residing in counties such as Hertfordshire, Warwickshire, and Gloucestershire. Notable individuals from this period include John Outlaw (1719-1782), a wealthy merchant and landowner from Hertfordshire.

In the 19th century, the Outlaw name gained prominence in the field of literature with the English author Walter Outlaw (1833-1909), who wrote several novels and short stories focused on the themes of adventure and exploration.

Race and ethnic origin of people with the last name Outlaw

We also have some data on the ancestry of people with the surname Outlaw.

The below race categories are the modified race categories used in the Census Bureau's population estimates program. All people were categorized into six mutually exclusive racial and Hispanic origin groups:

1. White only
2. Black only
3. American Indian and Alaskan Native only
4. Asian and Pacific Islander only
5. Hispanic
6. Two or More Races

For the most recent 2010 census data, the race/ethnic origin breakdown for Outlaw was:

Note: Any fields showing (S) means the data was suppressed for privacy so that the data does not in any way identify any specific individuals.

Since we have data from the previous census in 2000, we can also compare the values to see how the popularity of Outlaw has changed in the 10 years between the two census surveys.

Data source

The last name data and ethnic breakdown of last names is sourced directly from the Decennial Census survey, conducted every 10 years by the United States Census Bureau.

The history and meaning of the name Outlaw was researched and written by our team of onomatology and genealogy experts.

If you have a correction or suggestion to improve the history of Outlaw, please contact us.

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